Reading-desk.



PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.-

W. J. LONERGAN.

READING DESK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1904.

[N VE N T 01?.

WITNESSES.-

WILLIAM J. LONERGAN, OF BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN.

READING-DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed July 11, 1904.. Serial No. 216,012.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LONERGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookfleld, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reading-Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in reading-desks, combining the movements of adjustment as to height, inclination, and rotation, together with variety of position as a whole, and in a device for holding the leaves of the book down.

The object of my invention is to hold a heavy book nearly vertical to the plane of vision with the head erect, obviating the necessity of stooping over or of fatiguing the arms holding the book up. I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 gives a general view of the Whole desk in perspective. Fig. 2 gives a view of the hinge attaching desk to standard. Fig. 3 shows the device for holding the leaves of the book down.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The standard F, on which desk proper is hinged, is a rod having perforations into which a pin P fits, upon which the hinge (and weight of desk) rests. These perforations End pin regulate the height of desk from the cor.

The desk proper, D, is a rectangular board, to one side of which is attached a narrower rectangular strip T at right angles, forming a trough in which book rests. To the ends of the desk at their upper extremities the arms of the book-holding bail A are pivoted. The book-holding bail A, Fig. 3, is a rod having each end bent at a right angle in the same plane, forming a horizontal part and two arms. The horizontal part passes across front of desk, while the arms are pivoted to ends of desk, so that the whole may be raised or lowered from or to desk and book.

The hinge II, which hinges desk to standard, consists of a cylindrical part or sleeve, 1

which slides up and down and also rotates on standard, and a rectangular part, which is screwed to desk, as half of an ordinary hinge. The lower end of sleeve rests on pin P, which passes through standard, by means of which height of desk is regulated. The sleeve is made in two halves (from top to bottom) bolted together through lugs L on each side, permitting removal from standard, which passes through it. To one side of sleeve is a rib R, which expands horizontally at its upper extremity to form the middle part of a hinge. The rectangular part of hinge articulates with this part in the same manner as an ordinary hinge.

The inclination of desk is regulated by the double or slotted segment S. This consists of two arcs between which the standard F passes. These arcs are perforated, and a pin P passes in front of standard from one to the other. This pin bears on standard, to which the weight of desk holds it. One end of each arc is bent at aright angle and is screwed to the desk. From the other end braces B B pass to desk, where they are screwed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with the perforated standard F of the desk D, the book-holding bail A pivoted to the ends thereof, the twopart sleeve II loosely mounted on the standard and hinged to the desk, one part of said sleeve forming part of the hinge, the erforated segments S secured to the des the braces B secured to the segments and to the desk, the pin P adapted to enter the perforations in the segments for adjustment of the inclination of the desk, and the pin P adapted to enter the perforations in the standard and su port the sleeve thereby supporting the desli in adjusted vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. LONERGAN. Witnesses E. H. TUCKER, L. RITZENTHALER. 

